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Pfeiffer Beach (Keyhole/Purple Sand)

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Address: Pfeiffer Beach, California 93920

Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur California is known for its purple sand. Most of the sand is composed of quartz, garnet which is mostly responsible for the sand turning purple. We didn’t get lucky the first time we visited at around 11 am. The Beach was closed due to parking space limitations. The beach parking area only has 65 parking spaces available and the entrance fee is $10 per day use. We got lucky during our second visit. We arrived in Pfeiffer Beach at around 8:30 a.m.

Finding the place is very tricky as it doesn’t have signage. It’s about 1 mile from the entrance of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. It only has yellow signage that states ” Narrow road, No RV’s trailers”. We had to make a quick right turn and downhill to Sycamore Canyon Rd. Be careful for oncoming cars as they are ascending. From there it gets exciting as you have to drive for at least 15-20 minutes on a very rough and narrow road that is being shared by 2 cars. You just have to figure out how to maneuver in oncoming cars. We reached the end of the road and self-paid for a day-use fee. There were two parking areas and a public restroom. The keyhole arch is going to be on the right side of the beach. It was sunny but windy when we visited so be prepared to bring a jacket just in case.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about The Pfeiffer Beach after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

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Bodie Gold Mine and Ghost Town

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Address: CA-270 Bridgeport, Ca. 93517

Bodie State Historic Park is a genuinely eerie, and historically preserved California gold-mining ghost town. Visitors can walk down the deserted streets of a town that had a population of 10,000. Small amounts of gold were discovered in the hills north of Mono Lake. It’s located 13 miles east of Highway 395 on Bodie Road Hwy 270. The drive is a very unique, challenging, and memorable experience. We hit the end of a paved road and it was off-road (gravel and sand) for at least 3 miles one way. We drove slowly and safely along the rough dirt road. We were lucky that we had rented an SUV with a road adaptive feature that helped us maneuver through it.

The entrance fee per adult person is $8, and $5 for children ages 4-17, and children ages 3 and under are free. We were also given a brochure that shows the history of Bodie and each individual buildings. The mining carts and burned houses reminded us of a scene from Indiana Jones and Old Western movies. We walked through the area and saw all the original old houses, vehicles, tools, artifacts, and furniture with different states of decay. The one that is visible in the middle of the town is the Gold Mill building with original machinery that processed gold extraction. There was also a gift shop where we purchased our souvenirs. Public restrooms are available near the parking area. The site has 2 locations for parking and is made up of gravel and sand. Everyone was wearing masks and social distancing due to Covid-19. Reminder to bring lots of water and sunscreen. Just a reminder that your car will be very dirty and dusty.

Tips: Try to drive or rent an SUV since you will be driving slowly on an unpaved road with a combination of sand and rocks. There was a lot of dust created by other cars passing through on both ways.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about Bodie State Historic Park after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

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Bixby Bridge

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Address: Bixby Creek Bridge, CA-1, Monterey, Ca. 93940

Bixby Bridge is the most photographed bridge in Big Sur California due to its aesthetic design, graceful architecture, and settings. It took us 2 and a half hours to drive from San Francisco to Big Sur. There were a lot of winding roads, Vista points, turn-outs, and some areas don’t even have guard rails.

We passed through the first bridge and thought that was Bixby Bridge but it wasn’t. The next Bridge is the Bixby Bridge and the arches of Bixby are a lot bigger. The parking area at Bixby Bridge Vista point gets too crowded and they have another parking area across the bridge which was unpaved road and lots of rocks. When we went to Bixby Bridge the second time at around 8:30 am on a Saturday there were only 3 cars parked. We were very careful while crossing the road since the area has lots of traffic congestion. Also check the weather before going because the view of the winding roads, bridges, and tourist spots are a lot better when it’s a beautiful sunny day. Enjoy and stay safe.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about The Bixby Bridge after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

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Minaret Vista

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Address: Lookout Point Road, Mammoth Lakes, Ca. 93546

Minaret Vista Mammoth is the highest lookout point in the Mammoth Lakes that you can drive to and watch the sunrise or sunset. It offers a panoramic view of the famous Minarets, the backside of Mammoth Mountain, and the far-reaching Sierra landscape. We drove to Minaret Vista about 30 minutes before sunset. They have limited parking and it’s usually crowded right before sunset. They also have public restrooms available. Our drive was about 10-15 minutes from The Village Lodge. My wife brought her tripod stand and her Nikon camera. There is a circular viewing area in front of the Vista which is a great spot for a photo opportunity. It’s is in close proximity to the Ranger station for Devil’s Postpile. Make sure that you turn right before the Ranger station and continue until you reach the parking area but watch out for oncoming cars that are leaving.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about The Minaret Vista Point after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

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June Lake

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Address: June Lake Loop, Ca. 93529

June Lake Loop is about 6 hours and 30 minutes drive from San Francisco and about 254 miles via CA-120 East. June Lake has eight restaurants, 17 lodges, four lakes, and an abundance of opportunities for an outdoor adventure. The June Lake Loop is composed of June Lake, Gull Lake, Silver Lake, and Grant Lake. The June Lake Loop is situated in the two-lane highway 158 on the southern rim of the Mono Basin in the Eastern Sierra. The Lake’s Parking lot area was full at the time of our visit.

June Lake has a loop for 16 miles and it follows a horseshoe-shaped canyon containing four lakes (June, Gull, Silver, and Grant). We drove around the town and bought some souvenirs. We parked at an area near the campground for day use only. There is also an additional parking area closest to the lake but it only allows a 4×4 or SUV due to its sandy area and off-road condition. And we even saw a car got stuck on the sand in that area due to an accumulation of sand. We walked for 5 minutes and found a good spot to stay. The water is not too cold and there were some gravel and small rocks along the beach. So try to wear aqua or water socks for safety and comfort. The water is crystal clear with a bluish and greenish color combination with the view of the mountain in the background. The views of the surrounding mountains around the lake made its beautiful scenery. We drove to a small area where we ate a late lunch on outdoor seating at a reasonable price before you hit Hwy 395.

Tips: I had a minor headache while playing in the water due to its higher elevation (7,600 feet) so be careful not to do anything strenuous activity if you are not used to higher elevation areas. Please bring bottled water to keep hydrated and aqua socks due to smaller rocks in the area.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about The June Lake after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

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Mono Lake South Tufa National Reserve

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Address: US-395 Lee Vining, Ca. 93541

Mono Lake Reserve was established to preserve the unique “tufa towers”, calcium-carbonate spires and knobs formed by the interaction of freshwater springs and alkaline lake water. It’s two and a half times as salty as the ocean and very alkaline. We took highway 395 and near the town of Lee Vining California. We drove through the paved road towards South Tufa and hit a rough road with gravel and sand for at least a 5-10 minutes drive. We even saw a deer jumped in front of us but was quick enough to run to the bushes before my wife could take a picture. The entrance fee is $3 per adult and you just self-pay using an envelope due to Covid. When we arrived at the gravel and sand parking lot we had to walk through a wooden path to the lake for at least 5 minutes.

The lake view is unique and amazing with all the different shapes and sizes of the tufa towers. There was a strong smell of salty ocean scent and lots of alkaline flies all over the water. My family and I drove there again at 6 am the next day to capture the mesmerizing sunrise which reflected the sun’s Rays over the tufa towers which created a great orange sunrise reflection in the water.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about The Mono Lake South Tufa after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

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Devil’s Postpile National Monument

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Devils Postpile National Monument

Address: Devil’s Postpile Access Road, Mammoth Lakes, Ca. 93546

Devil’s Postpile is a National Monument located near Mammoth Mountain in Eastern California. It is an unusual rock formation of columnar basalt. I suggest that you get there really early or late around 4 p.m. The entrance fee is $10 per car and they have public restrooms available. For the exciting part, from the Ranger Station entrance, you will have to drive for at least 20-30 minutes on a one and half downhill, a winding road without guard railings. The view while driving down is gorgeous and don’t look down if you have a fear of heights.

We arrived in Devil’s Postpile at around 9 a.m. and the parking lot is about 80% full. Just watch out for parking spots assigned or reserved for overnight campers only. The shuttle service is unavailable during our visit due to Covid-19 restrictions. It’s about an easy 0.6-mile hike from the Devil’s Postpile’s parking area. There is also a stair leading to the top of Devil’s  Postpile. There are a lot of picnic areas, photo opportunity spots throughout the area, and don’t forget to bring lots of water and sunscreen.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about Devil’s Postpile after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

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Shasta Lake Cave Tour

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Address: 20359 Shasta Caverns Road, Lakehead, Ca. 96051

     This experience is a first for us. Getting there is a little bit trickier because you have to drive through a narrow and winding road for at least 15-20 minutes. It will be a faster process if you reserve tickets online. The facility has a lot of parking spaces and a clean public restroom inside the gift shop. The boat dock is located in the lower area of the lake. After we get off from the other side of the mountain we walked uphill and rode a shuttle bus going up to the mountain. The shuttle took us towards the top of the mountain via a winding and narrow road. Try to sit on the left side of the shuttle if you have fear of heights.

     The cave tour was self-guided during the time of our visit and we ended up finishing the tour within an hour. You can take pictures and bring a water bottle inside. You will see a few bats flying in certain areas and you have to go through a flight of stairs. It’s warm and not too dark inside and there were staff members available to answer your questions. Don’t forget to take a picture after exiting the cave as you will go through stairs going down to where you started. The view of Lake Shasta from the top is amazing and beautiful. There is a public restroom available near the bus stop or waiting area. Oh, don’t forget to take a picture with Yogi the bear in the museum area.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about Shasta Lake Cave Tour after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

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South Lake Tahoe Private Boat Tour

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Address: 2435 Venice Drive, South Lake Tahoe, Ca. 96150

This is the main highlight of our Wedding Anniversary trip. We tried on a new experience for us by doing a Private boat tour around the Lake in South Tahoe. The location is in a secluded Marina boat dock called Tahoe Keys Marina. The Private boat tour costs $195 an hour and we were greeted by a professional and friendly Captain named Troy. He even provided us with a bottle of special champagne for our 15th Wedding Anniversary. The Captain toured us around the south end of the lake such as the Emerald Bay, Fanette Island which used to be a tea house, Vikingsholm Castle, Rubicon bay, and many more. The best part is my daughter and I get to swim in the shallow end of Emerald Bay with clear and turquoise-colored water.

A few minutes away, we docked and anchored his boat on a secluded private property called Rubicon Bay. We swam in the bluish-green colored crystal clear water of Rubicon Bay which is called the Caribbean of South lake Tahoe. The beaches belong to the property owners of Rubicon Bay. The crystal clear waters reminded us of Bora Bora, but just a reminder that the water can get cold but you will eventually get acclimated. And in the end, Captain Troy took us to the middle of the lake which is where the Stateline is located between California and Nevada. The entire 3 hours were fun and exciting experience for us and made our Anniversary memorable. We will surely recommend the service to our friends and families. And don’t forget to bring your own towels, food or snacks, and swimming trunks. Fyi, the boat also has its own medium size clean restroom for the guests.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about the Private Boat Tour after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

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The Village Lodge Mammoth Resort

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The Village Lodge Mammoth

Address: 1111 Forest Trail, Mammoth Lakes, Ca. 95346

During our trip to Mammoth Lake, we stayed at The Village Lodge Mammoth resort on the 5th floor in 2 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms with a view of the pool, jacuzzi, and the Mountain. The Village Lodge is a very nice resort surrounded by restaurants, retail shops and It is within a walking distance from the hotel. Our resort accommodation package came in with a free Gondola ride ticket. They normally offer concierge, bellhop, and shuttle service but those services were not available during our stay due to Covid-19 restrictions.   And all the restaurants and shops have limited hours too due to Covid-19. The resort is about 10-20 minutes from the Devil’s Postpile Ranger Station, Minaret Vista Point, Earthquake Fault, and Mammoth Mountain Gondola ride facility. Overall, we were satisfied with our stay and service.  

The guest’s garage is located in the basement and is only accessible with your room key.   I forgot and left the car trunk slightly opened all night but nothing was missing. And if you like to drink beer I would recommend trying the IPA-395 and the food at Gomez’s Restaurant in the Village Center. My daughter also bought some good chocolates and candied apples from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. The resort has an arcade room, restaurant, and room service. The resort is even popular during the winter season where you can rent a variety of winter equipment to use in the snow.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or what you think about The Village Lodge Mammoth Resort after your visit in the comments below. Please share our blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Thank you.

Click here to find a hotel close to Village Lodge Mammoth Resort.